Hoof Knife, Muleshoe and Horseshoe

Hoof Knife [top]

The hoof parer or nipper is indispensible to the farrier. It is used to trim the hoof of the horse or mule before the shoe is applied. Scotty had his own blacksmith shed at Lower Vine Ranch and shoed his mules himself. He was a true cowboy who could do all that was needed to take care of his stock.
Steel. L 36, Handle H 4.7, Head H 7 cm
Death Valley National Park, DEVA 17850

Muleshoe [bottom left]

Mules are very sure footed animals, but they still need protection from the various surfaces humans take them on. This shoe seems to be specially made with a metal bar attached to the toe with a protruding lip and inward curled ends at the heel. Was this for better traction or because the mule needed extra build-up for that foot? Whatever the reason, it is an interesting example of the blacksmithing art.
Metal. L 14.5, W 10.2, T 3.5 cm
Death Valley National Park, DEVA 17867

Horseshoe [bottom right]

Due to domestication, horses hooves are more prone to softening, splitting and weakening than they are in the wild where they are able to move more on softer ground. Horseshoes are nailed to the hoof through the hoof wall where there are no nerves or blood vessels to damage. The indentations at the nail holes allow the nail heads to be flush with the surface of the shoe. As the horses hoof grows or the shoe wears down, the shoe needs replaced.

Scotty was able to shoe horses as well as mules. The difference between the two breeds hooves is that a horse has a more rounded, crescent shaped hoof; mules have narrower hooves that allow them to place their feet in smaller areas than a horse.
Metal. L 13.2, W 11.3, D 1.2 cm
Death Valley National Park, DEVA 19101